Raymond Gubbay's brisk national tour arrived at Bradford's St George's Hall for two nights.
The magic of Tchaikovsky's famous ballet was rather at a premium, given the logistical constraints of a hectic tour. The scenery was effective but neither inspired nor varied. The Christmas tree, constantly on the move, nearly wore itself out.
The makeshift St George's stage was hardly big enough for the corps de ballet. The orchestra, sited well out front, played vividly but the strings were no match for the brass. The costumes passed muster in colour and design and an eight-foot Master of Ceremonies cast a suitably eerie spell.
The principals worked hard to please but were rewarded with less than rapturous applause which created some uneasy pauses. Two hours of Tchaikovksy's glorious music is always a treat but on this occasion it wasn't quite enough.
* Russian State Opera of Siberia presents Madam Butterfly at St Georges Hall on March 28/29.
John Pettitt
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